Flat plate ironer



July 26, 1955 J. HURLEY FLAT PLATE IRONER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.23, 1953 INVENTOR.

E. "T n1 July 26, 1955 J. HURLEY 2,713,733

FLAT PLATE IRONER Filed Jan. 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 2.6, 1955 J,HURLEY 2,713,733

FLAT PLATE IRONER FiledJan. 2s, 1953 5 sheets-sheet s f w MW IN V ENTOR.

United States Patent O FLAT PLATE IRONER Jason Hurley, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 23, 1953, Serial No. 332,829

14 Claims. (Cl. 38-36) This invention relates to fiat plate ironers. Ailat plate ironer as contemplated herein is a small portable type forhome use and it includes a buck, a heated shoe, spring means fornormally separating the buck and heated shoe, and control meansincluding a handle for latching the heated shoe in engagement with thebuck and for applying pressure between the heated shoe and buck. Such ailat plate ironer may take the form disclosed in copeuding applicationSerial No. 332,830, led January 23, 1953, by Jason Hurley and Hans F.Treptc.

In such a flat plate ironer the material to be ironed is placed on thebuck, and then the handle of the control means is manipulated to movethe heated shoe into engagement with the material on the buck, to latchthe heated shoe in such engaging position and to apply pressure betweenthe buck and the heated shoe for ironing purposes. After the ironingoperation is completed the handle of the control means is againmanipulated to relieve the pressure between the buck and heated shoe andto release this latching means for permitting the heated shoe to beseparated from the buck to expose the ironed material.

The successful operation of such a at plate ironer is dependent upon theskill of the operator thereof and such skill is not usually prevalent inthe case of housewives wnere the small portable ironers herecontemplated would normally be used. Different materials such as wool,cotton, synthetics, etc. require different ironing times and extremecare must be exercised in this respect to prevent scorching or burning.Further, if the ironer is inadvertently left closed, serious damage andlire hazards may well be created.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a improved fiatplate ironer wherein the aforementioned shortcomings and dangers areeliminated, wherein the flat plate ironer, when closed, is automaticallyopened after a predetermined time interval, wherein the time intervalmay be adjusted for the purpose of ironing different types of materials,wherein a timing means and its connections with the control means forcontrolling the same are simple in construction and operation andwherein the timing means is set and activated by the control means uponclosing of the ironer.

Briefly, the hat plate ironer of this invention includes detent meansfor latching the control means in position to latch the heated shoe inengagement with the buck and to apply pressure therebetween when theironer is closed. Timing means is operatively connected with the detentmeans for releasing the control means after a predetermined timeinterval to relieve the pressure between the heated shoe and the buckand to permit the heated shoe and buck to be separated by the springmeans. The timing means is also operatively connected with the controlmeans so that it is set and activated thereby when the control means isoperated to close the ironer. rl`he timing means is adjusted so that theprede- 4termined time intervals may be regulated as desired, In

Patented July 26, 1955 "ice this way the ironer is automatically openedat desired predetermined time intervals following closing thereof.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of constructionof the flat plate ironer and in the cooperative relationships betweenthe component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanyingspecilication, claims and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the fiat plate ironer of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the ironer takensubstantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing in dotted linesthe raised position of the heated shoe.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are partial vertical sectional views illustratingdifferent positions taken .by the hat plate ironer during use thereof.

Figure 7 is an enlarged partial plan View of the flat plate ironer withportions thereof broken away for clarity.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line8 8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side elevational View partly in section and looking fromthe right of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a perspective View with portions broken away illustratingthe detent means and the timing means shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

Referring iirst to Figures 1 and 2, the flat plate ironer of thisinvention is generally designated at 10. It includes a supportingframepll formed from a pair of substantially U-shaped tubes. Each tubehas a lower long leg 12, a substantially semicircular portion 13 and anupper short leg 14. The two tubes are secured together as by welding andthe lower long legs 12 thereof diverge to form a supporting base. Thetubes 11 may be formed of any suitable material, such as steel or thelike. The ends of the lower legs 12 of the tubes may be closed by plates15 suitably welded in place and similarly the ends of the upper legs 14of the tubes may be closed by a plate 16 suitably welded in place. Thusthe supporting frame while being extremely rugged in construction islight in weight.

The lower legs 12 of the supporting frame 11 carry a pair of transversetubes 17 which in turn carry a perforated plate 18 having a dependingange 19. The plate 18 is suitably secured to the tubes 17 and the tubes17 are suitably secured to the lower legs 12 as by welding to form animmovable buck carried by the supporting frame. This buck may beprovided with suitable padding 20 and covering material 21 suitably heldin place on the buck.

The flat plate ironer also includes a pivoted arm 24 which is formedfrom a pair of tubes 25. The tubes 25 are generally straight except thatthe rear ends thereof are curved downwardly as indicated at 26 so as toconform to the curvature of the supporting frame 11. The two tubes 25are secured together in spaced apart relation by a pair of cross members27 and 28, the cross members being suitably secured thereto as bywelding. The two tubes 2S of the pivoted arm 24 straddle the short legs14 of the supporting frame 11. The rear end of the pivoted arm 24 ispivoted to the supporting frame 11 adjacent the short upper legs 14thereof by a transverse pivot pin. 29 journaled in suitable bearings 30carried by the tubes. The pivoted arm 24 is normally urged to an upperposition as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2 by means of aspring. The spring includes portion 31 engaging under the pivoted arm24, a portion 32 engaging the curved part 13 of the supporting frame andhelical portions around the pivot pin 29.

The at plate ironer also includes a shoe 36 which may be cast fromaluminum or the like. The lower side of the shoe is smooth and performsthe ironing function and the upper side includes a plurality of ribs 37for strengthening the shoe and for accommodating electrical heatingelements 38. Electric current is supplied to the electrical heatingelements 38 through thermostatic controls carried by the shoe 36 andresponding to the temperature thereof. These thermostatic controls areadjustable and may be adjusted by manipulating control knobs 40. In thisway the shoe 36 may be electrically heated to desired temperatures, andby manipulating control knobs 40 the temperature of the shoe may bevaried for purposes of ironing different types of material.

As illustrated in Figures l to 6, the shoe 36 also carries a pair ofstuds 41 which extend upwardly therefrom and v which are provided at`the upper ends with heads 42. A

bracket 43 has a pair of holes and cylindrical bosses for slidablyreceiving the studs 41. Upward movement of the bracket 43 with respectto the studs 41 is limited by the heads 42 of the studs. at its endswith a pair of upwardly extending ears 44 having slots therein. Springs46 encompass the studs 41 and extend between the heated shoe 36 and thebracket 43. Thus, the studs 41 provide a lost motion connection betweenthe heated shoe 36 and the bracket 43, and the springs 46 resilientlyseparate the bracket and the heated shoe to the extent allowed by thelost motion connection.

The heated shoe 36 also is provided with a plurality of lugs 47 foraccommodating a cover 48 which is secured in place by screws 49 enteringthe lugs 47. The cover 48 y may be rnade of sheet metal or the like andoperates to enclose the electrical heating elements 38, the thermostaticcontrols and the lost motion connection between the bracket 43 and theheated shoe 36. The cover 48 is provided with openings for accommodatingthe control knobs 40 for the thermostats and the bracket 43.

The free end of the pivoted arm 24 rotatably carries a transverse shaft52 by means of suitable bearings in the forward ends of the tubes 25.This shaft 52 is connected by arms 53 to a handle 54. The handle 54 isutilized for lowering the pivoted arm 24 and for rotating the shaft 52,the handle 54 having an upper position and a lower position. The shaft52 is also received in the slots of the ears 44 of the bracket 43 sothat bracket 43 is movably carried by the shaft 52, and hence, the freeend of the pivoted arm 24. If desired, tension springs (not shown) maybe located between the bracket 43 and the shaft 52 for resilientlymaintaining the bracket 43 in an upper position with respect to theshaft 52. Because the heated shoe 36 is supported through the lostmotion connection by the shaft 52, it may pivot about the shaft 52 sothat when the heated shoe is lowered against the stationary buck, itwill automatically align itself with respect to the buck.

The shaft 52 carries a cam 55 in the form of a box cam having anactuating slot 56 terminating in a slot 57 which is concentric with theaxis of the shaft 52. A roller 58 carried by a rod 59 engages in theslots 56 and 57 of the cam 55. The rod 59 extends through and is guidedby suitable holes in the cross members 27 and 28. The rear end of therod 59 rotatably carries a cam follower 60 having a beveled periphery.This cam follower 60 is adapted to engage with a cam track 61 suitablysecured to the plate 16 as by welding or the like. The cam track 61 hasa V groove for receiving the cam follower 60. This cam track is providedwith a low dwell so that when the cam follower is held in the low dwellas illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 the pivoted arm 24 is locked in itslower position.

The bracket 43 carries a pair of cam members 65 underneath the shaft 52,these cam members 65 being provided with cam surfaces 66. The camsurfaces 66 are adapted to be engaged by rollers 67 carried by a pair ofcam actuators 68 suitably secured to the shaft 52. Thus, as the shaft 52is rotated from the position illustrated in Figure 5 to the positionillustrated in Figure 6, the rollers 67 operate on the cam surfaces 66of the cam members 65 to move the bracket 43 downwardly for the purposeThe bracket 43 is provided 4 of compressing the springs 46. Thisdownward movement of the bracket 43 is permitted by the slots in theears 44 of the bracket 43.

A latch member 71 is pivotally secured by a pivot pin 72 to the rod 59and this latch member 71 is provided with a latch shoulder 73 forengaging the cross member 28 of the pivoted arm 24. When the shoulder 73engages the cross member 28 as illustrated in Figure 3, rearwardmovement of the rod 59 while the pivoted arm 24 is raised is prevented.When, however, the pivoted arm 24 is moved to its lower position asillustrated in Figure 4, the rear end of the latch member 71 engages thecam track 61 for disengaging the shoulder 73 from the cross member 28 toallow rearward movement of the rod 59.

The pivoted arm 24 is preferably provided with a cover (not shown) forenclosing the same and the parts carried thereby. This cover may besecured to the pivoted arm in any suitable manner. The construction ofthe flat plate ironer thus far described is very much like thatdisclosed in the aforementioned Jason Hurley and Hans J. Treptecopending application.

ln the operation of the flat plate ironer the pivoted arm 24 is normallymaintained in the upper position as illustrated in Figure 3 and indotted lines in Figure 2 by means of the spring 31, 32. When the pivotedarm is in this upper position the latch shoulder 73 engages the crossmember 28 to prevent rearward movement of the rod 59 and hence, toprevent forward rotation of the shaft 52 and the handle 54. ln this waythe handle 54 is also maintained in its upper position. The handle 54may be grasped to pull the pivoted arm Z4 from its upper position asillustrated in Figure 3 to its lower position as illustrates! in Figure4 where the heated shoe 36 engages the buck. During this lowering of thepivoted arm 24, the shaft 52 and hence the handle are not rotated.

When the pivoted arm 24 reaches its lower position as illustrated inFigure 4, the latch member 71 engages the top of the cam track 61 torelease the latch shoulder 73 from the cross member 28, thus freeing therod 59. As the downward and forward pressure on the handle 54 iscontinued, the handle 54 moves forwardly and downwardly to rotate theshaft 52. As a result the cam 55 is rotated whereby the actuating slot56 thereof forces the rod 59 rearwardly to cause the cam follower 60 toengage in the low dwell of the cam track 61. as illustrated in Figure 5.As a result the pivoted arm 24 is locked in its lower position. Becausethe cam follower 60 is beveled and the cam track is in the form of a Vgroove, lateral displacement of the arm 24 while in locked position isminimized.

At the time that the pivoted arm 24 is locked in its lower position asillustrated in Figure 5, the rollers 67 of the cam actuators 68 engagethe cam members 65. Continued downward movement of the handle 54 fromits intermediate position to the lower position forces the bracket 43downwardly as illustrated in Figure 6. This compresses the springs 46 ofthe lost motion connection for applying spring pressure between theheated shoe and the buck. As is noted in Figure 6, the cam actuators 68do not move over center so that the springs 46 tend to rotate the shaftS2 and hence the handle 54 from their lower positions toward their upperpositions. Thus, it is necessary to maintain the handle 54 in it; lozvcrposition during the ironing operation. ln this respect the flat plateironer here differs from that of the aforementioned copendingapplication of Jason Hurley and Hans F. Trepte.

When the shaft 52 and the handle 54 are released, the shaft 52 isrotated and the handle is moved from the lower position as illustratedin Figure 6 to the position illustrated in Figure 5 by the springs 46.When in the intermediate position illustrated in Figure 5, the levermain spring 31, 32 resilientiy urges the pivoted arm 24 upwardly tocause the roller 6) to ride out of the low dwell in the cam track 61 andby reason thereof the cam follower 53 entering the actuating slot 56 ofthe cam further rotates the shaft 52 and the handle 54 toward the upperposition as illustrated in Figure 4 whereupon the pivoted arm 24 ismoved upwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 3. Thus, when theshaft 52 and handle 54 are released, they are automatically rotated andthe spring pressure between the heated shoe and the buck is released asshown in Figure 5, the locking means is released as shown in Figure 4and the pivoted arm 24 is raised to its upper position as shown inFigure 3.

Referring now to Figures 7 to 10, there is'disclosed a detent means andassociated timing means for latching the pivoted shaft 52 and handle 54in the lowered position as illustrated in Figure 6 when moved to thatposition. Following a time interval determined by the timing means thedetent means is released to free the shaft 52 whereupon the at plateironer is automatically opened in the manner described above. Thus, theironer may be manually closed and automatically latched in closedposition and then following a predetermined time interval the ironer isautomatically opened.

The detent means includes a sleeve member suitably secured to the shaft52 as by welding, the sleeve member 75 extending radially from the shaft52. A latch member 76 is slidably mounted in the sleeve 75 and is urgedoutwardly by a spring 77. The detent means also includes a shaft 78journaled for rotation in one of the tubes 25 of the pivoted arm 24. Oneend of this shaft 73 is cut in half along a diameter to provide a atsurface 79. This end of the shaft '7S provides a latch member forcooperating with the latch member 76 for maintaining the shaft 52 andthe handle 54 in their lowered positions. The at surface 79 is normallyin a vertical position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 9 andmay be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to the other dotted lineposition illustrated in Figure 9. When the end of the shaft 78 is in therotated position, the latch member 76 engagesover the top of the shaftas illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 9 and is maintained in thatposition. As the shaft 78 is subsequently rotated in a clockwiseposition to make the flat surface 79 substantially vertical, then thelatch member 76 is released to free the shaft 52.

The shaft 78 carries a gear S0 which has a small solid portion 81. Theteeth of the gear 80 mesh with teeth 83 on a rack 84 which is pivoted at85 to a crank arm S6 suitably secured to the shaft 52. A spring 87connected to the crank arm 86 and the rack 84 urges the rack teeth 83into engagement with the teeth of the gear Si?. The rack 84 is providedwith a solid portion 33 adjacent the teeth S3 which engages the solidportion 81 of the gear Sil when the shaft 52 and the handle 54 arerotated to the lower position as illustrated in Figure 6. ln this waythe rack 84 is disengaged from the gear 30 at this position of the shaft52. When the shaft 52 and handle 54 are in the upper position, the atsurface 79 on the shaft '78 is vertically arranged. When the handle ismoved from the upper position to the lower position as illustrated inFigure 6, the rack S4 drives the gear S0 to rotate the shaft 78 in acounterclockwise direction as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 wherein theflat surface 79 of the shaft 78 assumes the other dotted line positionillustrated in Figure 9. At the same time the latch member 76 is movedup over the shaft 73, this being permitted by the spring 77, and islatched in that position as illustrated in Figure 9.

The gear 80 meshes with a gear 92 carried by a shaft 93 journaled in oneof the tubes 25 of the pivoted arm 24. The outer end of the shaft 93 isreduced as indicated at 95 and rotatably carries a knob 94. The knob 94is held in place on the reduced portion 9S of the shaft 93 by means of ascrew 96. A spring 97 urges the knob 94 inwardly. The inner face of theknob 94 is provided with a plurality of recesses 98 which are adaptedCil to receive projections on a plate 99 carried by the tube 24. Atorsion spring 100 has one end secured to the shaft 93 and has the otherend secured to the knob 94. Thus, by rotating the knob 94 with respectto the shaft 93 the force of the spring 100 may be adjusted and the knob94 is maintained in the desired adjusted position by the recesses 98therein cooperating with the projections on the plate 99. The torsionspring 100 operates to rotate the shaft 93.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 93 is a gear 104 which carries a pawl 102by means of a pivot pin 103. A spring I 105 urges the pawl 102 intoengagement with the teeth of the gear 92. The gear 104 also engages witha gear 106 of a timer 107 also carried by the tube 25.

In the normal position of the detent means and the timer, when the shaft52 and handle 54 are in the vertical position as illustrated in Figures3 and 4, the attened surface 79 of the shaft 78 is in a verticalposition. The outer end of the rack 84 is engaging the teeth of the gear80 and the solid portion 81 of the gear 80 is engaging the teeth of thegear 92 carried by the shaft 93. Thus, rotation of the shaft 93 by thespring 100 is at this time prevented. When the shaft 52 and the handle54 are moved from the upper position as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4to the lower position as illustrated in Figure 6, the rack 84 rotatesthe gear 80, and, hence, the shaft 78 in a counter clockwise directionas illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 through substantially 45. At this timethe spring pressed latch member 76 is moved up and over the shaft 78 asillustrated in dotted lines in Figure 9. At the same time the solidportion S1 of the gear 80 engages the solid portion 88 of the rack 34 torelease the rack 84 from the gear 80. This counter clockwise movement ofthe shaft 78 does not cause rotation of the gear 14.04, the pawl 102slipping during this movement. During this movement the spring 100 isalso tightened. When the rack 84 is thus disengaged from the gear 80 thetightened spring 100 operates to rotate the shaft 93 in acounterclockwise direction, and, hence, the shaft 7S in a clockwisedirection. During this rotation of the shafts 78 and 93 the pawl 102drives the gear 104 which in turn also drives the timer 107. The timer107 operates to retard the rotation of the shafts 7S and 93 by thespring 100. When the shaft 7S is rotated in this retarded fashion by thespring 100 to the position where the flat surface 79 becomes vertical,the latch member 76 is released whereupon the shaft 52 is released forthe purpose of opening the ironer in the manner described above. As theshaft 52 is being rotated for opening the ironer, the rack 84 slipsalong the teeth of the gear 80 so that this rotation of the shaft 52 isin no way retarded. It is noted that the teeth 33 of the rack 34 areconstructed for this purpose. By adjusting the knob 94 the tension ofthe spring 100 may be adjusted for regulating the predetermined timeinterval before the shaft 52 is released for opening purposes.

If while the detent means are engaged for latching the shaft 52 andhandle 54 in the lowered position, it is desired to open the ironer allthat is necessary is to raise the handle 54. When this is done the latchmember '76 is urged into the sleeve 75 so that the latch member mayreadily be released from the shaft 73. The solid portion 31 of the gear80 operates to prevent winding the timing means beyond a predeterminedamount even though the handle 54 may be pumped While for purposes ofillustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other formsthereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon referenceto this disclosure, and, therefore, this invention is to be limited onlyby the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a dat plate ironer having a supporting frame, a buck carried bythe frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame, a heated shoe carriedby the free end of the pivoted arm above the buck, spring means normallyraising the pivoted arm and heated shoe to an upper position, the heatedshoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered to alowered position, latch mechanism for latching the pivoted arm in itslowered position, resilient means for applying pressure between the buckand heated shoe when the pivoted arm is latched in its lowered position,and control means including a handle and operatively connected with saidlatch mechanism and resilient means for operating said latch mechanismand resilient means, in combination therewith, detent means operativelyconnected with said control means for latching said control means tomaintain said latch mechanism in position to latch the pivoted arm inits lowered position and to maintain said resilient means in position toapply pressure between the buck and heated shoe, time controlled timingmeans operatively connected with said detent means for releasing saidcontrol means after a predetermined time interval to release theresilient means for relieving the pressure between the buck and heatedshoe and to release the latch mechanism for permitting the pivoted armto be raised to its upper position by the spring means.

2. In a flat plate ironer having a supporting frame, a buck carried bythe frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame, a heated shoe carriedby the free end of the pivoted arm above the buck, spring means normallyraising the pivoted arm and heated shoe to an upper position, the heatedshoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered to alowered position, latch mechanism for latching the pivoted arm in itslowered position, resilient means for applying pressure between the buckand heated shoe when the pivoted arm is latched in its lowered position,and control means including a handle and operatively connected with saidlatch mechanism and resilient means for operating said latch mechanismand resilient means, in combination therewith, detent means operativelyconnected with said control means for latching said control means tomaintain said latch mechanism in position to latch the pivoted arm inits lowered position and to maintain said resilient means in position toapply pressure between the buck and heated shoe, time controlled timingmeans operatively connected with said detent means for releasing saidcontrol means after a predetermined time interval to release theresilient means .l

for relieving the pressure between the buck and heated shoe and torelease the latch mechanism for permitting the pivoted arm to be raisedto its upper position by the spring means, and means operativelyconnecting the timing means and the control means for setting i andactivating the timing means when the control means is operated tooperate said latch mechanism and resilient means.

3. In a flat plate ironer having, a buck, a heated shoe, spring meansfor normally separating the buck and heated shoe, and control meansincluding a handle for latching the heated shoe in engagement with thebuck and for applying pressure between the heated shoe and buck, incombination therewith, detent means operatively connected with saidcontrol means for latching the control means in position to latch theheated shoe in engagement with the buck and to apply pressuretherebetween, and time controlled timing means peratively connected withsaid detent means for releasing said control means after a predeterminedtime interval to relieve the pressure between the heated shoe and buckand to permit the heated shoe and buck to be separated by the springmeans.

4. In a flat plate ironer having, a buck, a heated shoe, spring meansfor normally separating the buck and heated shoe, and control meansincluding a handle for latching the heated shoe in engagement with thebuck and for applying pressure between the heated shoe and buck, incombination therewith, detent means operatively connected with saidcontrol Vmeans for latching the control means in position to latch theheated shoe in engagement with the buck and to apply pressuretherebetween, time controlled timing means operatively connected withsaid detent means for releasing said control means after a predeterminedtime interval to relieve the pressure between the heated shoe and buckand to permit the heated shoe and buck to be separated by the springmeans, and means operatively connecting the timing means and the controlmeans for setting and activating the timing means when the control meansis operated to latch the heated shoe in engagement with the buck and toapply pressure therebetween.

5. In a flat plate ironer having a supporting frame, a buck carried bythe frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame, a heated shoe carriedby the free end of the pivoted arm above the buck, spring means normallyraising the pivoted arm and heated shoe to an upper position, the heatedshoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered to alowered position, latch mechanism for latching the pivoted arm in itslowered position, resilient means for applying pressure between the buckand heated shoe when the pivoted arm is latched in its lowered position,and control means including a shaft and a handle and operativelyconnected with said latch mechanism and resilient means for operatingsaid latch mechanism and resilient means, in combination therewith,detent means including a latch member carried by the shaft of thecontrol means, a second shaft and a latch member carried by the secondshaft, said latch members of the detent means engaging upon operation ofthe control means to maintain said latch mechanism in position to latchthe pivoted arm in its lowered position and to maintain said resilientmeans in position to apply pressure between the buck and heated shoe,time controlled timing means operatively connected with said secondshaft for disengaging the latch members after a predetermined timeinterval to release the resilient means for relieving the pressurebetween the buck and heated shoe and to release the latch mechanism forpermitting the pivoted arm to be raised to its upper position by thespring means.

6. In a at plate ironer having a supporting frame, a buck carried by theframe, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame, a heated shoe carried bythe free end of the pivoted arm above the buck, spring means no1'- mallyraising the pivoted arm and heated shoe to an upper position, the heatedshoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered to alowered position, latch mechanism for latching the pivoted arm in itslowered position, resilient means for applying pressure between the buckand heated shoe when the pivoted arm is latched in its lowered positionand control means including a shaft and a handle and operativelyconnected with said latch mechanism and resilient means for operatingsaid latch mechanism and resilient means, in combination therewith,detent means including a latch member carried by the shaft of thecontrol means, a second shaft and a latch member carried by the secondshaft, said latch members of the detent means engaging upon operation ofthe control means to maintain said latch mechanism in position to latchthe pivoted arm in its lowered position and t0 maintain said resilientmeans in position to apply pressure between the buck and heated shoe,time controlled timing means operatively connected with said secondshaft for disengaging the latch members after a predetermined timeinterval to release the resilient means for relieving the pressurebetween the buck and heated shoe and to release the latch mechanism forpermitting the pivoted arm to be raised to its upper position by thespring means, and means operatively connecting the shaft of the controlmeans, the timing means and said second shaft for activating the timingmeans and setting the second shaft when the control means is operated tooperate said latch mechanism and resilient means.

7. In a flat plate ironer having, a buck, a heated Shoe, spring meansfor normally separating the buck and heated shoe, and control meansincluding a shaft and a handle for latching the heated shoe inengagement with the buck and for applying pressure between the heatedshoe and buck, in combination therewith, detent means including a latchmember carried by the shaft of the control means, a second shaft and alatch member carried by the second shaft, said latch members of thedetent means engaging upon operation of the control means for latchingthe same in a position to latch the heated shoe in engagement with thebuck and to apply pressure therebetween, time controlled timing meansoperatively connected with said second shaft for disengaging the latchmembers after a predetermined time interval for releasing said controlmeans to relieve the pressure between the heated shoe and buck and topermit the heated shoe and buck to be separated by the spring means.

S. In a at plate ironer having, a buck, a heated shoe, spring means fornormally separating the buck and heated shoe, and control meansincluding a shaft and a handle for latching the heated shoe inengagement with the bucle and for applying pressure between the heatedshoe and buck, in combination therewith, detent means including a latchmember carried by the shaft of the control means, a second shaft and alatch member carried by the second shaft, said latch members of thedetent means engaging upon operation of the control means for latchingthe same in a position to latch the heated shoe in engagement with thebuck and to apply pressure therebetween, time controlled timing meansoperatively connected with said second shaft for disengaging the latchmembers after a predetermined time interval for releasing said controlmeans to relieve the pressure between the heated shoe and buck and topermit the heated shoe and buck to be separated by the spring means, andmeans operatively connecting the shaft of the control means, the timingmeans and said second shaft for activating the timing means and settingthe second Ashaft when the control means is operated to latch the heatedshoe in engagement with the buck and to apply pressure therebetween.

9. In a flat plate ironer having, a buck, a heated shoe, spring meansfor normally separating the buck and heated shoe, and control meansincluding a handle for latching the heated shoe in engagement with thebuck and for applying pressure between the heated shoe and buck, incombination therewith, detent means operatively connected with saidcontrol means for latching the control means in position to latch theheated shoe in engagement with the buck and to apply pressuretherebetween, time controlled timing means operatively connected withsaid detent means for releasing said control means after a predeterminedtime interval to relieve the pressure between the heated shoe and buckand to permit the heated shoe and buck to be separated by the springmeans, and means for adjusting the timing means to regulate thepredetermined time interval.

l0. In a at plate ironer having, a buck, a heated shoe, spring means fornormally separating the buck and heated shoe, and control meansincluding a handle for latching the heated shoe in engagement with thebuck and for applying pressure between the heated shoe and buck, incombination therewith, detent means operatively connected with saidcontrol means for latching the control means in position to latch theheated shoe in engagement with the buck and to apply pressuretherebetween, time controlled timing means operatively connected withsaid detent means for releasing said control means after a predeterminedtime interval to relieve the pressure between the heated shoe and buckand to permit the heated shoe and buck to be separated by the springmeans, and means for regulating the temperature ofA the heated shoe andfor adjusting the timing means to regulate the predetermined timeinterval.

ll. In a at plate ironer having, a buck, a heated shoe, spring means fornormally separating the buck and heated shoe, and control meansincluding a handle for latching the heated shoe in engagement with thebuck and for applying pressure between the heated shoe and buck, incombination therewith, detent means operatively connected with saidcontrol means for latching the control means in position to latch theheated shoe in engagement with the buck and to apply pressuretherebetween, time controlled timing means operatively connected withsaid detent means for releasing said control means after a predeterminedtime interval to relieve the pressure between the heated shoe and buckand to permit the heated shoe and buck to be separated by the springmeans, means for adjusting the timing means to regulate thepredetermined time interval, and means operatively connecting the timingmeans and the control means for setting and activating the timing meanswhen the control means is operated to latch the heated shoe inengagement with the buck and to apply pressure therebetween.

l2. In a flat plate ironer having, a buck, a heated shoe, spring meansfor normally separating the buck and heated shoe, and control meansincluding a handle for latching the heated shoe in engagement with thebuck and for applying pressure between the heated shoe and buck, incombination therewith, detent means operatively connected with saidcontrol means for latching the control means in position to latch theheated shoe in engagement with the buck and to apply pressuretherebetween, time controlled timing means operatively connected withsaid detent means for releasing said control means after a predeterminedtime interval to relieve the pressure between the heated shoe and buckand to permit the heated shoe and buck to be separated by the springmeans, means for regulating the temperature of the heated shoe and foradjusting the timing means to regulate the predetermined time interval,and means operatively connecting the timing means and the control meansfor setting and activating the timing means when the control means isoperated to latch the heated shoe in engagement with the buck and toapply pressure therebetween. Y

13. In a at plate ironer having a buck, a heated sho spring means fornormally separating the buck and heated shoe, a latch mechanism forlatching the heated shoe adjacent the buck, resilient means for applyingpressure between the buck and the latched heated shoe, control means,including a handle, operatively connected to the latch mechanism and theresilient means for moving and latching the heated shoe adjacent thebuck and for applying pressure between the buck and the latched heatedshoe when the control means is manipulated in one direction by thehandle and for relieving the pressure and unlatching the heated shoe toallow the spring means to separate the buck and heated shoe when thecontrol means is moved in the opposite direction, in combinationtherewith, means operatively associated with said control means formaintaining said control means in position when it has been operated insaid one direction, and means including timing means operativelyassociated with said control means for operating said control means insaid opposite direction after a predetermined time interval.

14. In a at plate ironer having a buck, a heated shoe, spring means fornormally separating the buck and heated shoe, a latch mechanism forlatching the heated shoe adjacent the buck, resilient means for applyingpressure between the buck and the latched heated shoe, control means,including a handle, operatively connected to the latch mechanism and theresilient means for moving and latching the heated shoe adjacent thebuck and for applying pressure between the buck and the latched heatedshoe when the control means is manipulated in one direction by thehandle and for relieving the pressure and unlatching the heated shoe toallow the spring means to opposite direction after a predetermined timeinterval, separate the buck and heated shoe when the control and meansoperatively associated with said control means means is moved in theopposite direction, in combination for setting and activating saidtiming means when said therewith, means operatively associated with saidcontrol Control means iS Operated in Said one direction.

means for maintaining said control means in position 5 References Citedin the le of this patent when 1t has been operated 1n said onedlrection, means including timing means operatively associated with saidUNITED STATES PATENTS control means for operating said control means insaid 2,239,991 Bush Apr. 29, 1941

